Editing Fluid requirements


See separate topic on 'Stress response' for post-operative ebb/flow

* Factors that increase fluid requirements:
** After surgery and during critical illness
** Epidural anaesthesia
** Fever
** Tachypnoea
** Oxygen supplementation
* Factors that decrease fluid requirements:
** Age
** Cardiac disease
** Renal disease



Fluid losses per 24 hours:

* Lungs - 400mL. Increased in dry atmospheres or those with tracheostomy.
* Skin - 600-1000mL
* Faeces - 60-150mL (in normal bowel function)
* Urine - 1500mL
** Minimum of 400mL/24 hours to excrete end products of protein catabolism


Maintenance fluid requirements

* Estimated at 30-40mL/kg/day


For assessment of fluid status, see separate topic 'assessment' under 'critically ill patient'

* Check perfusion of skin, kidneys, brain
* Use fluid balance chart
* Use biochemical data too


Approach to fluid/electrolyte prescription:

* Basal requirements
* Current fluid/electrolyte deficit or excess
* Continuing abnormal losses

[[Category:Peri-op medicine]]